and the reality is the opposite, namely they are far more oppressed outside than inside the modern West.
First of all, that's not necessarily true. They're oppressed in different ways; whether it's better or worse is arguable. (Well, sometimes it isn't--but I'd really hesitate before suggesting Japan, say, or South Africa is more oppressive for women than America.)
Second, I have far more experience with Western culture than non-Western culture (unfortunately for me) so I didn't want to generalize to things I was unfamiliar with. Apparently you do not possess this hesitancy. That is one of the differences between us.
Then the state of affairs will never end, for polite as you or I may be to women, some men will always be jerks (just as some women will always be jerks) and hence the women who have not overcome it will feel intimidated by the obnoxious men.
Stop individuating this. I am not saying I want individual men to stop being jerks. I couldn't give half a shit about what individual men do. What I want is for the society and culture to change. When it does, what individual men do will mean fuck-all.
Whereas if women themselves learn not to let themselves be intimidated by "male privilege," then this privilege becomes meaningless because the "privileged" man is reduced to just hopping up and down and throwing a tantrum.
It's not about "not being intimidated." It's not about "growing thicker skin." It's about the fact that when they get into a conflict with men about this, society will tend to side with the men (as shinygobonkers described above, albeit in a different and far more horrifying context). Kind of hard to overcome that through self-determination.
Oh, and I didn't say that the woman should ignore the sexist insults. Oh, no. She should call attention to them, and point and laugh at the silly person who is arguing illogically. And I will heartily join in this laughter.
And when a bunch of other people come in and say, "Sure, that sexist insult was bad, but really it's not a surprise that it happened because you were kind of uppity" or some variation? And shocking as this may seem, not all women have the benefit of people like you to back them up in these situations. What if everyone turns against them? This isn't exactly rare.
Would you like me to get some women I know to comment on this thread? They're even women "of color," if that matters to you. Heck, some of them might agree with you
no subject
First of all, that's not necessarily true. They're oppressed in different ways; whether it's better or worse is arguable. (Well, sometimes it isn't--but I'd really hesitate before suggesting Japan, say, or South Africa is more oppressive for women than America.)
Second, I have far more experience with Western culture than non-Western culture (unfortunately for me) so I didn't want to generalize to things I was unfamiliar with. Apparently you do not possess this hesitancy. That is one of the differences between us.
Then the state of affairs will never end, for polite as you or I may be to women, some men will always be jerks (just as some women will always be jerks) and hence the women who have not overcome it will feel intimidated by the obnoxious men.
Stop individuating this. I am not saying I want individual men to stop being jerks. I couldn't give half a shit about what individual men do. What I want is for the society and culture to change. When it does, what individual men do will mean fuck-all.
Whereas if women themselves learn not to let themselves be intimidated by "male privilege," then this privilege becomes meaningless because the "privileged" man is reduced to just hopping up and down and throwing a tantrum.
It's not about "not being intimidated." It's not about "growing thicker skin." It's about the fact that when they get into a conflict with men about this, society will tend to side with the men (as shinygobonkers described above, albeit in a different and far more horrifying context). Kind of hard to overcome that through self-determination.
Oh, and I didn't say that the woman should ignore the sexist insults. Oh, no. She should call attention to them, and point and laugh at the silly person who is arguing illogically. And I will heartily join in this laughter.
And when a bunch of other people come in and say, "Sure, that sexist insult was bad, but really it's not a surprise that it happened because you were kind of uppity" or some variation? And shocking as this may seem, not all women have the benefit of people like you to back them up in these situations. What if everyone turns against them? This isn't exactly rare.
Would you like me to get some women I know to comment on this thread? They're even women "of color," if that matters to you. Heck, some of them might agree with you
If you want.